"Briggs, Patricia - Sianim 2 - Steal the Dragon.text" - читать интересную книгу автора (Briggs Patricia)

may or may not have been here to see Marri come. If he was watching someone
else, we don't have any worries."

"You said that you couldn't tell who he was looking for. Could you tell who paid
him?" Laeth's voice was still excessively gentle, so she knew that her face wasn't as
blank as she wanted it to be, and she redoubled her efforts.

"No," she answered. The metal of the doorknob was cold against her hand. "I
could tell it was someone that the guard was not afraid of, and that this wasn't the
first time he'd asked the guard to do this kind of work. The guard wasn't worried
about leaving his post, so it was someone with enough authority to stop any
punishments. It wasn't your brother, because he wouldn't have had to bribe the
guard at all. You'd know who would best fit such a description."

"Lord Jarroh?" he suggested, doubtfully.

Rialla opened her eyes and shook her head. "No. All the servants are terrified of
him and I'm sure that the guards would be too. Besides, that's not his style. He
would never hire someone to spy; it's not something that a proper noble would do."

"The only other person besides Lord Jarroh, my brother and myself with the
authority to halt a punishment would be my uncle, Lord Winterseine. But he's not
here yet."

"How about the overseer?" asked Rialla.

Laeth shook his head. "Dram's orders wouldn't be questioned. He'd never have
to bribe a guard to patrol the corridors of the keep rather than the walls. Not to
mention that the guard would be terrified of him."

Rialla nodded and then said, "Lord Winterseine's servant Tamas was here this
evening."

Laeth nodded. "I saw him and asked around. He came with Uncle's luggage as
he always does. Were you chasing after him this evening? I wondered where you
were. He probably left to tell Uncle about the poisoning attempt."

"Couldn't he have arranged for a guard to watch someone for your uncle?"
suggested Rialla.

"He could have," replied Laeth, "but I just can't see my uncle doing something as
improper as spying; he's worse than Karsten when it comes to decorous behavior."

"It is possible that the guard was sent to protect someone rather than spy on


them," Rialla commented. "I don't suppose talking about it all night will help us. I
think I will sleep in the slaves' quarters; sometimes they have information no one else
has."